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Tuesday, January 13, 2009

City Council is hoping to get some help from the Obama economic stimulus plan to help fund the Streetcar Project. This project fits perfectly within the new President's plan for improving the economy and job market by funding infrastructure improvements and investing in alternative transportation (rail transit). The project will help create jobs immediately and also help stabilize the city's neighborhoods and provide economic benefits for years to come. City Manager Dohoney is currently in the process of compiling a report on the status of the streetcar project funding and is scheduled to report back to city council in March. The already supportive city council will likely be even more supportive of the streetcar project after Councilman Cranely's resignation and the appointment of pro-streetcar democrat Greg Harris who will be filling his seat. Cranely was one of two council members not fully supportive of the streetcar plan. Harris has been quoted to be very supportive of the streetcars and sees the project as vital for moving Cincinnati ahead into the 21st century. As long as streetcar advocates are able to successfully fight off the recent NAACP's ridiculous opposition to this progressive project, it looks as if the streetcars are well underway to becoming a reality in Cincinnati. Read more here.

3 comments:

It will be pretty interesting to see how the NAACP opposes anything set in place by Obama. I think that the Cincinnati NAACP has done some great this, but I don't think that this streetcar opposition will go down in history as one of their finiest days.

When you consider the good work, the NAACP did on behalf of people of color, at its' inception; and then compare their recent actions at a local level, it pretty clear to see the pendulum has swung the other way. It seems like it's only function now, is as a bully pulpit for Smitherman.

Must See Streetcar Report

Streetcar FAQ

Not sold on the streetcar?Please take the time to look at this information with an open mind.Click HereA modern streetcar system is a real transportation solution that we can really benefit from.With federal and private funding sources, it won't raise anyone's taxes and will generate lots of new tax revenue for the city, that we desperately need. We'd be foolish not to invest in a streetcar system now. Dozens of cities across the U.S. are investing in streetcars and we don't want to be left behind.